It's that time of year again to refresh your spring and summer wardrobe with handcrafted and fair trade clothing.  We now have a great selection of women's spring fair trade clothing for all ages made by women's cooperatives around the world, many using traditional techniques including batik, block print and embroidery.  

Mata Traders

Mata products are original contemporary designs handmade in India and Nepal by women’s cooperatives and artisan groups that practice fair trade principles. The cooperatives provide benefits such as childcare, medical check-ups, overtime pay, and community development projects. Visit our website to see the Mata Traders dresses available in store and online.      

Global Mamas This skirt is hand batiked by a cooperative of women-owned businesses in Ghana, brought to Alternatives by Global Mamas, a member of the Fair Trade Federation.   Batik (pronounced ba-teek) is an ancient fabric art.  Hot batik wax is painted or stamped onto fabric, which is then dyed.  After one or more dyeings, the batik is removed, revealing different colored patterns.  Cracks in the batik wax give patterns the "crackled" look so unique to batik. Visit our website to see the Mata Traders skirts, dresses, and tops available in store and online.  

Pima Cotton Shirt from Peru These fair trade ladies shirts are made from 100% Pima Cotton in Lima, Peru.  Pima Cotton is considered to be one of the superior blends of cotton and is extremely durable, native to Peru.  Each shirt is pre-washed & machine dried to shrink.  We have several different styles to choose from at affordable prices.  Click here to visit our Pinterest page to see these shirts and all of our spring clothing available in store only.      

Cheppu Himal

Cheppu Himal works directly with Nepali artisans on designs to make a unique clothing line marketable in the West while utilizing traditional craft methods.  Cheppu’s workshop operates on the principles of fair trade. Their workers  also voluntarily participate in a savings/retirement program where their funds are matched by Cheppu. Click here to visit our Pinterest page to see the Cheppu Himal collection and all of our fair trade spring clothing available in store only.        

Lost River Lost River dresses, tunics, and pants are beautiful artisan creations made to wear and designed to flatter in any size. The fabric is 100% crinkle rayon hand batiked in Bali.  The Lost River's selection of handmade batik clothing supports small family businesses both in Bali and in Moab.  We currently have a small selection of our Lost River collection available online or visit our Pinterest page to see more of our Lost River collection.         Seyva Embroidered Tunics & Dresses We have several hand embroidered tunics and sundresses made by women artisan in Northern India on soft cotton fabric that is light-weight and perfect for summers in Florida.  You will enjoy the look and feel of this fair trade tunic top.  Hand embroidery in India dates back to 2300-1500 BC.  For many women in India, embroidery is an intrinsic part of their lifestyle, and they adorn their clothing with specific designs for special occasions. Today, embroidery is an important source of income for many women. Click here to visit our Pinterest page to see more Seyva tunics and sundress currently available in store only.    

---

Upcoming Events

Earth Day Celebration - April 20th-22nd

Stop by to see our eco-friendly and recycled Fair Trade product, sample Fair Trade Chocolate and Coffee, enter to win our Earth Day drawing!

Earth Day at Alternatives on Facebook

During the month of April, we'll be posting on our Facebook page all the ways Alternatives strives to be green and help the environment.  Share with us your tips and you'll be entered to win a $25 gift certificate.